The first thing you need to know is that in order to get a really polished, really original and really good-looking Timeline cover, you’ll have to work. If you know how to use Photoshop, that will probably yield the best results of all. But if, like me, you’re somewhat graphically challenged, the apps below are shortcuts that can help you create something nice even without the super duper graphics software.

Keep in mind, however, that you’ll need to work at it even with these apps, if you want to get really good results. If you don’t, you can still create some really cool Timeline covers in just a few minutes, but don’t expect them to be featured on Smashing Magazine!

Let me tell you right off the bat – Slicetige is far from perfect. In fact, you’ll need to put in some work to get good results, but if you’re willing to do that, this app has real potential. You can work just fine with the free version and create your cover image and avatar, but for $1, you can have the Plus version which lets you include buttons, text and multiple layers in your cover photo. Pretty neat features.

The point of Slicetige is in its name – slicing. You can create any cover photo with this app, especially if you opt for the Plus version, but its uniqueness comes from the ability to slice your avatar from your cover picture, as you can see below.

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To try it out, I’ve uploaded a photo of myself, and positioned it so my face is in the avatar window. I can then slice this avatar, and export it to use on Facebook. By using this cover photo and this avatar, I’ve created a pretty cool effect. And you can create much better things if you put some thought into it. In fact, the options are pretty endless.

Unfortunately, in my case, the results were just a bit disappointing, as the fit wasn’t perfect when I placed it on Facebook, but with some creativity, you can create some neat things your friends will keep asking about.

Note that Slicetige produces avatars which are 160×160. While this is the actual size of profile picture, Facebook wants them to be at least 180×180, so make sure to resize your avatar accordingly.

If Slicetige is a bit much for you, and you’re more of a Web app type of person, Tricked Out Timeline offers the same sliced effect, and three other effects, without downloading anything. Beware, though, you will have to Like the website’s Facebook page in order to get your photos, so if that’s not your thing, skip this one.

Tricked Out Timeline lets you choose between four different Timeline effects: the sliced effect, the missing puzzle piece effect, the torn bottom effect and the profile picture zoom effect (or “eect”, as it’s repeatedly spelled on the website).

The interface will take you through creating the effect of your choice, which will take no more than a minute, and will let you download the result. Remember, you need to Like their page in order to download.

As for results, they were somewhat better than Slicetige’s, but still not completely perfect with this specific picture. I’m starting to think I need to find a better picture to try.

It seems that all Timeline cover apps come with some sort of disclaimer, and CoverJunction is no different. To get covers from CoverJunction you don’t need to Like anything, but you do need to grant the app access to your Facebook account in order to add the Timeline cover. There are ways to make this almost harmless, and I’ll show you exactly how to do it.

CoverJunction is a reservoir of hundreds of cover photos, many of which are of the “smart” variety, such as this one.

There are many options to choose from, including many regular cover photos with no pun in sight. If you find a photo you’d like to snag as your Timeline cover, you won’t be able to download it and add it yourself; rather, CoverJunction will ask to access your Facebook account, where it will create an album called CoverJunction, and place the image there.

If you don’t want the app to post a link on your Timeline as well, make sure to set the “who can see posts this app makes” setting to “Only Me” when you grant it access. This way it won’t spam your friends.

After the app adds your selected cover to your albums, you can change your Facebook cover photo to it as you normally would. You should then promptly remove the app’s access from your account through Privacy Settings –> Ads, Apps and Websites – Apps you use. And voila, you have a beautiful new cover!